Winning suspended greenhouse design envisions hanging gardens for New York City

New York could soon have its own hanging gardens. The New York State Pavilion was recently the center of attention for a competition to revive its grandeur from the days of the World’s Fair. Architects and designers submitted hundreds of ideas to restore the landmark’s standing and function in a modern world. The winning “Hanging Gardens” design of a suspended greenhouse blew judges away with its plan to repurpose materials from the pavilion and feature plants and greenery native to the Northeast region of the country.

Once a part of the 1964-65 World’s Far in Queens, the pavilion was used as a concert hall and skating rink before being abandoned. The National Trust for Historic Preservation partnered with the People for the Pavilion to launch the design competition, announced by Bustler, which brought in over 250 submissions. Botanical gardens, metro stations, and museums were among the proposed designs.

First place went to Aidan Doyle and Sarah Wan of Seattle, Washington, for “Hanging Meadows.” They summarize their project as seeking “to rekindle the powerful legacy of the NY State Pavilion by repurposing the original structure to create a suspended natural environment. Hanging Meadows will collect, organize and exhibit flora native to particular parts of the Northeastern US.”

Second place was given to Javier Salinas of New York for “Civic Hub.” He described how “this multi-purpose space would work in conjunction with public programming. Shuttles from local community and senior centers would be sure to include everyone on the various local events and festivals that would be hosted in the open event space.”

Third place went to Rishi Kejrewal and Shaurya Sharma of Bhopal, India, for “Pavilion for the Community.” The team notes, “Features such as a communal children’s play area and solar panels pave the way towards a brighter future for the coming generations.”

The Queens Award was given to locals Cesar Juarez and Alida Rose Delaney for “Pavilion Park.” The public park incorporates the original landmark. They said: “With a focus on the integrity of the original structure, the flexible communal space would be centered around a stage with built-in stadium seating.”

A special Fan Favorite Award was handed to Houiji Ramzi of Saint Etienne, France, for “Tent of the Future,” which is described as “a combination between sustainable development and new technologies.” Solar panels throughout the public-accessible park capture energy for the Earth-friendly feature.